Latest news with #KevinRiddles
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Legendary Angel Witch bassist Kevin Riddles dies aged 68 after tragic cancer battle as bandmates pay tribute
A LEGENDARY heavy metal icon has died aged 68 after a tragic cancer battle. Kevin Riddles, who was best known as a founding member and bassist of Angel Witch, had reportedly been diagnosed with the illness before his death. 2 2 His death was announced on Instagram by the only surviving founding member of the group, Kevin Heybourne. Heybourne wrote: "It is with immense sadness that I have to report that Kevin Riddles, our original bass player passed away on Friday 4th July 2025. "Kevin was a great guy and we remained mates until the end, he will be greatly missed. "Our condolences to his wife Julie. Rest in peace Kev." In May, Riddles suffered from a "serious medical emergency" resulting in cancelled shows. In addition to his work with Angel Witch, Riddles also co-founded '80s power metal band Tytan. He also started his own band named Kev Riddles' Baphomet, in 2021. Baphomet recaptured the Angel Witch music from his 70s to 80s era with the band. His bandmates from later group Baphomet also shared a statement, writing: "Kevin 'Kev' Riddles passed away peacefully in hospital in the early hours of Friday morning 4th July 2025. "An absolute legend in the truest sense of the word, a larger than life character, an incredible and dedicated musician and a very fine and wonderful human being. "Rest easy big fella." Riddles was a key part of creating that distinct metal sound, cited as an influence for the likes of Metallica, Venom, and Slayer.
Metro
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Iconic heavy metal musician Kevin Riddles dies age 68 after cancer diagnosis
Kevin Riddles, best known as the bassist from Angel Witch, has died at the age of 68, his bandmates have confirmed. He was a founding member of the metal band, which rose to prominence in the mid-70s as pioneers of new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM). His death was announced by the only surviving founding member of the group, Kevin Heybourne, on Instagram. 'It is with immense sadness that I have to report that Kevin Riddles, our original bass player passed away on Friday 4th July 2025,' he wrote. 'Kevin was a great guy and we remained mates until the end, he will be greatly missed. 'Our condolences to his wife Julie. Rest in peace Kev.' Riddles had reportedly been diagnosed with cancer before his death, and in May, suffered from a 'serious medical emergency' resulting in cancelled shows. His bandmates from later group Baphomet also shared a statement, writing: 'Kevin 'Kev' Riddles passed away peacefully in hospital in the early hours of Friday morning 4th July 2025. 'An absolute legend in the truest sense of the word, a larger than life character, an incredible and dedicated musician and a very fine and wonderful human being. Rest easy big fella.' Riddles formed Baphomet after leaving Angel Witch in 1982, after the group's brief chart success with Sweet Danger. The single landed at number 75 for a week – a rare feat for a NWOBHM band but still earning them the title of 'least successful chart act of all time' in the Guinness Book of Hit Records. More Trending While Angel Witch has reformed, Riddles pursued other projects, including Tytan with drummer Dave Dufort, but they only released one album. The group reformed in 2012 and released their second record, continuing to tour until recently when Riddles' health declined. He also founded Baphomet in 2021, which recaptured the Angel Witch music from his 70s to 80s era with the band. Riddles was a key part of creating that distinct sound, cited as an influence for the likes of Metallica, Venom, and Slayer. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Legendary Angel Witch bassist Kevin Riddle is dead at 68: Influential heavy metal artist was battling cancer
Kevin Riddles, the bassist known for his work in several influential heavy metal groups, has died at 68. Riddles was best known as the founding bassist for the British heavy metal band Angel Witch. The musician had been battling cancer prior to his death. Kevin Heybourne, the last remaining founding member of Angel Witch, announced Riddle's death in a somber Instagram media post on Monday. 'It is with immense sadness that I have to report that Kevin Riddles, our original bass player passed away on Friday 4th July 2025,' he wrote. 'Kevin was a great guy and we remained mates until the end, he will be greatly missed.' 'Our condolences to his wife Julie,' Heybourne continued, adding, 'Rest in peace Kev.' Riddles later band Baphomet also announced his death on its Facebook page. 'Kevin "Kev" Riddles passed away peacefully in hospital in the early hours of Friday morning 4th July 2025,' it wrote. 'An absolute legend in the truest sense of the word, a larger than life character, an incredible and dedicated musician and a very fine and wonderful human being. 'Rest easy big fella,' the announcement added. Riddles was a key member of the original Angel Witch lineup, which formed in 1976 in London. The band is now considered one of the major acts in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) that began to take shape in the mid-1970s and achieved international success by the start of the next decade. Unlike later, more extreme forms of metal music, Angel Witch and other NWOBHM bands had a greater focus on hooks and melody, but they upped the intensity of earlier hard rock music while adding in some of the speed and aggression of early punk rock. Riddles was a key contributor to Angel Witch's self-titled debut LP, which was released in 1980, but he left the band in 1982 to form his next band, Tytan. Angel Witch has continue to exist in a variety of shifting lineups on and off throughout the years. That group — which also featured Angel Witch drummer Dave Dufort — was also a key figure in the NWOBHM movement, as it formed just as similar bands were at the peak of their popularity and commercial success. However, the group was only in existence for about two years and released just one album, which came out after its breakup. Riddles returned to Tytan in 2012 for a reunion that saw the group finally released a second full-length album. The reunion became a rebirth for the heavy metal act, and Tytan continued touring nearly until his death. Coinciding with Tytan's rebirth was Riddles' nostalgia project Baphomet, a band he founded in 2021. Baphomet was focused on performing the music Riddles played with angel Witch from the mid-'70s to his 1982 departure.
